Ceremonies held throughout Montgomery County in remembrance of 9/11

Bagpiper Kyle Johnson leads a procession to the American flag at Westover Country Club in West Norriton for the annual 9/11 memorial ceremony, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.
Oscar Gamble — Digital First Media

NORRISTOWN >> Throughout Montgomery County commemorative services were held on Monday to honor the fallen and pay homage to the heros of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In West Norriton, residents, officials and first responders gathered for a long-running 9/11 ceremony at the Westover Country Club organized by former employee Denny Brennan.

A procession to the club’s flagpole was led by bagpiper Kyle Johnson before the flag was lowered to half staff by Al Pasquale, USMC, as “Taps” was sounded by bugler Roy Wolf. A poem in remembrance of 9/11 was read by David Schrack.

“We’ll never forget,” said State Rep. Michael Corr. “It’s an honor to be here to represent the 150th District and to pay our respects to those who fell on that day in terms of our fire and police officers as well as to remember those regular American citizens that lost their lives.”

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“I think we as Americans can never forget what happened on 9/11,” said State Sen. John Rafferty. “We can not forget the sacrifices made that day and the attack on our liberty,” he continued, recalling the first responders and clergy who ran into the World Trade Center to render assistance. “With Denny doing this, it’s a very simple and solemn ceremony ... and it reminds us all of what happened that day and how we should stay focused on the continuing fight against terrorism.”

In West Conshohocken, members of Conshohocken VFW Post 1074 served as an honor guard while Mayor Joseph Pignoli remembered the impromptu “bucket brigade” the borough started shortly after the attacks, which raised $80,000 for the fallen first responders at the World Trade Center.

“It all started here after 9/11,” Pignoli said. “The people of West Conshohocken, Bridgeport and Conshohocken all got together ... No one could believe that this could happen from this little town, how great the people came together and worked together and did this great thing,” he said, recalling trips to Shanksville and then to New York, to hand-deliver the brigade’s proceeds.

The ceremony in West Conshohocken also featured a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by VFW trumpeter Tom Smith and a poignant homily by the Rev. Dwight Young, chaplain of VFW Post 1074, with the theme of “living your purpose,” like the selfless firefighters, police and medics who gave their lives on 9/11.